Resources: Getting Started

This new PDF has been developed by Community Ownership Support Service (COSS). It is used by COSS advisors to identify where you are in the process, as laid down in Part 5; Asset Transfer, in the Community Empowerment (Scotland) Act 2015. It helps to guide you through the steps along the way to achieving your goals. Side one of the poster shows the four phases of the asset transfer process and signposts each phase of the journey. Side two gives more detail and links to relevant information for each phase.

A Community Right to Buy (CRtB) is a pre-emptive right to buy land (or property) for communities throughout Scotland under Part 2 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003. It provides for those communities, who successfully register a community interest in land, to have the frst option to buy when the registered land is offered for sale.

The Crofting Community Right to Buy (CCRtB) in Part 3 of the Land Reform (Scotland) Act 2003 (“the Act”) creates a setting in which a Crofting Community Body (CCB), representing an identifed crofting community, may acquire eligible croft land (including "fshing rights and / or mineral rights (except mineral rights to oil, coal, gas, gold or silver))

Part 3 of the Act 2015 on Participation Requests is focussed on extending and improving community participation in improving outcomes for their communities. It is the legislation that enables communities to request to participate in decisions and processes which are aimed at improving outcomes.

This guidance has been developed for both relevant authorities and community bodies. Relevant authorities are required to have regard to guidance issued by the Scottish Ministers in carrying out their functions in relation to asset transfer.

There is more guidance for community transfer bodies on completing the request form, and more for relevant authorities on the acknowledgement and notices they have to issue following receipt of a request.

The Guide For Landowners (updated 2018) has been produced by the Community Land Advisory Service in Scotland and provides free, comprehensive information and advice to help landowners play their part in the surge in community gardening and food growing across Scotland.

If your group is looking to take on property to develop a growing project or community garden, The Federation of City Farms and Community Gardens has published a Community Gardens Starter Pack specifically for Scottish groups. It can be downloaded below.

Keystone is a quality award scheme that gives information and support to people who run village halls and community buildings. It will help you to make sense of legislation and regulation and put systems in place to keep things running smoothly allowing you to concentrate on providing the best facilities possible.